Feb 6 1969
From The Space Library
NASA launched four sounding rockets from Wallops Station to obtain upper-atmosphere data on normal winter day. Arcas carried Naval Weapons Center payload to 34.9-mi (56.1-km) altitude to measure ozone concentration at altitudes between 18.6 and 37.3 mi (30 and 60 km), using photometer and optical filter wheel. Failure of recovery parachute to open satisfactorily caused fast descent and prevented payload recovery. Obtaining useful information was expected to be difficult, but good data were expected. Nike-Cajun carried GSFC payload to 79.4-mi (127.7-km) altitude to obtain temperature, pressure, density, and wind data in upper atmosphere by detonating grenades and recording sound arrivals on ground. All 19 grenades were ejected and detonated as planned and sound arrivals were recorded. Nike-Apache carrying Univ. of Colorado payload reached 72.7-mi (117-km) altitude on flight to obtain vertical profile of nitric oxide density in 15.5- to 65.3-mi (25- to 105-km) region. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. Second Nike-Apache carried Univ. of Illinois payload to collect data on ionosphere. Rocket and instruments functioned satisfactorily. (NASA Rpts SRI.; NASA Proj Off)
Nike-Cajun sounding rocket launched by NASA from Churchill Research Range carried GSFC payload to 80.2-mi (129-km) altitude to obtain data on variation of temperature, pressure, and wind profile by detonating grenades at prescribed times and recording their sound arrivals on ground. Rocket, last in series of four launched from Churchill during stratospheric warming [see Jan. 30], performed satisfactorily. All 19 grenades ejected and detonated as planned. Sound arrivals were recorded for 14-15 grenades because of power failure at receiving station. (NASA Rpt SRL)
Aerobee 150 MI sounding rocket launched by NASA from Churchill Research Range carried Univ. of Minnesota Institute of Technology payload to 83.2-mi (133.8-km) altitude to study neutral composition of polar atmosphere with neutral mass spectrometers. Rocket underperformed; burnout occurred at 42 secs. All instruments worked perfectly. Useful data were obtained in 68.4- to 87.0-mi (110- to 140-km) region. (NASA Rpt SRL)
At confirmation hearing on his appointment as Director of Office of Science and Technology before Senate Labor and Public Welfare Committee, Dr. Lee A. DuBridge said he would place his energies on analysis of weapon systems, environment and effect of technology and pollution on environment, and utilization of science and technology by Government departments. He planned to concern himself with social problems and hoped to increase social scientists on President's Science Advisory Committee from one to two. He hoped for increased funding for HUD and DOT, and regretted allocations for basic research were declining in DOD, NASA, and AEC because such agencies "will profit by good relations with universities." (Nelson, Science, 2/14/69, 657)
U.S.S.R.'s Venus V (launched Jan. 5) and Venus VI (launched Jan. 10) were on course and functioning normally, Tass announced. Spacecraft were expected to reach Venus in late May. Venus V was 4,785,000 mi from earth; Venus VI, 4,050,000 mi. (Reuters, NYT, 2/7/69, 14)
NASA sponsored one-day meeting to review progress in its five-year research program on fog-shrouded airports. In one test during NASA-sponsored work by Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory in Project Fog Drops, small aircraft carrying 700 lbs of salt had opened wide path in dense warm fog in five minutes. (NASA. Release 69-17; Transcript)
Sperry Rand Corp. announced election of former NASA Administrator James E. Webb to Board of Directors. He had been vice president of company's Sperry Gyroscope Div. in 1943. (Sperry Rand Release 2/6/69; SSD, 2/11/69, 140)
Univ. of California astronomers Dr. E. Joseph Wampler and Dr. Joseph S. Miller reported-they had photographed winking of pulsar in Crab Nebula-first of pulsars to be unequivocally associated with observable star-by spinning disc before star's image projected by 120-in telescope at Lick Observatory, Calif. Hole in disc, spun slower than flash rate of pulsar, permitted light from star to penetrate once each revolution. For first time star was shown photographically to be flashing on and off. Rate of light pulses was identical to that of previously observed radio pulses. (NYT, 2/7/69, 22; UN, W Post, 2/7/69, A6)
Cambridge Univ. announced radioastronomy team under Sir Martin Ryle, professor and astronomer, would build world's largest, most sensitive radiotelescope, to cost $4.8 million. It would be operational in two years and capable of picking up signals which started to earth 8,000 million yrs ago. Cambridge team had discovered pulsars. (UPI, W Post, 2/7/69, A20)
NASA awarded Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. $3,438,400 supplemental agreement for changes in Apollo lunar module contract. Modifications-to documentation and reporting procedures for LM test and checkout, to flight and ground test hardware, to test and effect analyses, and to crew safety hardware-brought total value of contract to $1.6 billion since January 1963. (MSC Release 69-14)
Washington Evening Star said: "As man's horizon of space expands, the costs of maintaining an effective program expand in direct proportion. Already, the first limited steps have resulted in an economic burden that the richest nation in the world finds almost intolerable. If the adventure is to continue much longer, it will have to be as an international effort. Nixon's inaugural statement raises the possibility that some international body, a sort of United Nations for space exploration, could be established to pool the talents and the resources of all nations. It is an idea well worth pursuing. (W Star, 2/6/69, A10)
DOD announced month delay in site acquisition and construction work on Sentinel ABM system. Action had been taken previous week to permit review of program. At White House news conference President Nixon said, "I do not buy the assumption that the ABM system, the thin Sentinel system, as it has been described, was simply for the purpose of protecting ourselves against attack from Communist China. ' System, like those U.S.S.R. already deployed, "adds to our overall defense capability." (PD, 2/10/69, 228; WSJ, 2/7/69, 6)
State Dept. announced AEC would join Australia in exploring economic, technical, and safety aspects of producing deep-water harbor at Cape Keraudren in northwestern Australia using atomic explosives. (W Post, 2/7/69, A5)
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